Fox Cities schools prepare as students plan walkouts

Protesters gathered outside of the Florida Capitol Building recently in support of gun reform. The protest comes after the shooting in Parkland, Fla. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, that left 17 people dead.(Photo: Andrew Salinero, USA TODAY NEWORK)

APPLETON - Erin Gretzinger is a junior at Appleton East High School, but she won’t be in class at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

And she won’t be the only one out of her seat.

Gretzinger plans to walk out of school with her classmates that day, exactly one month after 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“We’re going to make a difference,” Gretzinger said in a recent interview with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. “We’re not going to sit back and watch.”

The protest, which is expected to happen at schools across the country, including several in the Fox Cities, will begin at 10 a.m. and last for 17 minutes — one minute for each person killed in the shooting.

Gretzinger and Peter Sieck, also a junior, have been involved in organizing a walkout at Appleton East.

“Action should have been taken long ago,” Sieck said. “All students should be able to feel safe and secure in school.”

Gretzinger and Sieck aren’t certain how many students will choose to participate in the walkout, but said responses to the plan have been overwhelmingly positive so far. They’re both excited to be part of a movement being led by students across the country.

“It made me want to get involved,” Gretzinger said. “I’m really excited to become part of history.”

Andrew Olson and Cecelia McDermott, both seniors at Appleton West, have worked together to help plan a walkout at their high school.

The intense focus on school safety in recent weeks has led more students to talk about local and national issues, Olson said.

“A lot more students are getting involved,” he said. “It’s really kind of crazy.”

The Appleton Area School District said in a written statement that parents could excuse students from class to participate in the walkout, but — based on the district’s attendance policy — any student who leaves class without permission from a parent will be considered unexcused.

“We’re going to make a difference. We're not going to sit back and watch.”

Erin Gretzinger, Appleton East junior

“We want to make sure that all of our students feel safe and respected, no matter what they choose to do,” the district said.

The district encouraged parents to have conversations with their children about the issue.

“We will continue to work with our students to find meaningful ways to share their voices regarding issues that impact them,” the district said.

The possibility of facing consequences didn’t dissuade McDermott when she was deciding whether to participate in the walkout.

Menasha Joint School District Superintendent Chris VanderHeyden said his district wouldn’t get involved in planning a walkout, but also wouldn’t stand in the way of students who choose to participate.

“We’re not going to interfere with it, other than to abide by the rules we already have in place,” he said.

But students will likely need permission from a parent to avoid consequences for missing school, VanderHeyden said.

VanderHeyden was concerned by the possibility of having a large number of students outside at a predetermined time. He plans to have staff supervise to ensure students are safe and has also requested an increased police presence around the time of the walkout.

“We understand that we have students at the high school who feel the need to participate and be heard.”

Kaukuana Area School District

The Kimberly Area School District has not had any students come forward with plans for a school walkout, according to Nicole Noonan, the district's marketing and community coordinator.

The Kaukauna Area School District will hold classes as scheduled Wednesday, but will allow interested students to participate in the walkout.

"We understand that we have students at the high school who feel the need to participate and be heard," the district said in a written statement.

The district's administrative team has been working with student leaders to coordinate the event and ensure appropriate supervision. Students are expected to return to class after the walkout is over.

"Rather than taking a political position, we will focus on supporting our school community, honoring the victims from Parkland, and reinforcing the importance of school safety," the district said.

Neenah Joint School District communications manager Jim Strick said his district would support the right of students to participate, but would require them to be excused by a parent to avoid an unexcused absence.

Students at both the high school and middle school in Neenah have expressed interest in participating in the walkout, Strick said. The district plans to have staff and additional police outside the buildings during the walkout.

“We still want to make sure these students are safe if they choose to do this,” he said.